Show will be tribute to loved ones

Local man Alan McClarty is hoping to break his £10,000 target for charity when he performs on stage at the Riverside later this month.

This will be Alan’s third production in the last three years, raising money for Action Cancer.

Alan and his pals, Richard Mairs and Darren Gardiner, who have all lost parents to cancer, have been behind two other productions at the local theatre in a bid to raise money for Action Cancer and as a tribute to their loved ones.

The local men each experienced the emotions of grief in the same year after Richard lost his mother Emily, Darren lost his father Desi and Alan lost his father David. This production will be dedicated to Darren’s sister, Faye Gardiner, who sadly passed away earlier this summer.

The first production saw Alan in a one man show ‘A Night in November’, the second performance, just last year saw the trio putting on ‘Stones in his Pockets’ to sell out audiences, and to date they have raised over £8,000.

Speaking to The Times on Friday, Alan admitted that this third show ‘Of Mice and Men’ would be the last performance, and he hopes that they can break the £10,000 mark for the local cancer charity.

Alan has enlisted the help of many of the best amateur actors in the area, and he guarantees a great run of shows.

“This time there’s ten in the cast,” he tells. “Myself and Adam Goudy, who directed me in a ‘Night in November’ will play the lead roles in the production, this time Richard and Darren are taking a back seat, and will more involved in the production side of things.

“The play is part of the GSCE syllabus this year so we are hoping local students might take the opportunity to come along,” he said.

The play will run at the Riverside from Thursday, August 25 to Saturday, August 27, and on the Saturday there will be two shows, including a matinee.